Terms & Conditions

Health and Medical conditions:

The grooming environment can be stressful for some dogs, particularly young, senior or overweight dogs or those with pre-existing medical conditions. The grooming process could exacerbate existing conditions or expose unknown conditions during or after the groom. In the best interest of your pet, this agreement will give us the permission to seek emergency veterinary treatment if it is deemed necessary for any reason. We will try our best to get in contact with you prior to taking your pet for treatment but this is not always possible. All medical expenses are the responsibility of the owner. By agreeing to these Terms and Conditions you are agreeing to the following disclaimers:

Disclaimers

Elderly, Overweight or Young Dogs Disclaimer:

A full groom can take multiple hours to complete and can be physically demanding and stressful for some dogs. Whilst we take every precaution to provide additional support for elderly, overweight and young dogs, we cannot guarantee that your dog will be able to adequately support themselves for their full grooming session which can result in serious health risks and can increase the risk for additional injuries such as cuts and grazes. We reserve the right to cease the grooming process at any time with the full price of the groom due upon collection of your dog. Any dog who requires immediate veterinary help will receive this and you agree that you shall be liable for any additional costs resulting from this.

Vaccinations:

By using our services, owners confirm that their dog is up to date with their annual vaccinations against Infectious Canine Hepatitis, Canine Distemper, Leptospirosis and Canine Parvovirus. An unvaccinated dog can put itself and others at risk, we take no responsibility for any dog that may contract any of the aforementioned diseases. We may ask for proof of vaccination status and veterinary information which must be provided.

Fleas and Ticks:

We are proud that our salon is a flea/tick free environment. If it is known that your dog has a parasitic infestation, we ask that your grooming appointment is rescheduled to a time after your pet is free from any parasitic infestations. 48 hours noticed is required to avoid a cancellation charge. We recommend that you contact your veterinary surgery to discuss the best treatment recommended for your dog. If fleas/ticks are found on your dog whilst at our salon, you will be required to collect your dog immediately and you will be liable for our full grooming fee. We will not be responsible for any infections caused by the tick or the removal of the tick.

Coat Condition:

We practice humanity over vanity when grooming any dog in our salon. If we are presented with a neglected coat, it is kinder, in our professional opinion to remove the coat rather than to de-mat the whole dog which is in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Whilst we will make every effort to identify this in our pre-groom consultation and coat assessment, there are times that the level of matting cannot be fully identified prior to the commencement of grooming. In this event we will try our hardest to contact you beforehand, if this is not possible, we will do what is in the best interest of the dog. By agreeing to these Terms and Conditions you are agreeing to the following De-matting disclaimer:

De-matting Disclaimer:

Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, it is an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to an animal|; this includes prolonged ‘de-matting’ which is painful and detrimental to the welfare of the dog. If you bring your dog with more and more than 20 minutes of de-matting work is required, we are required by the Act to clip your dog short humanely or refer you to your vet to do the same. 

At our salon, we will only attempt to de-matt 5% of your dog, this equates to about 50p sized mats behind each ear, in the elbows and perhaps one or two more in the groin or tail area. 

We have assessed your dog’s coat and found it to be matted, therefore, it needs to be clipped short. This can be prevented by daily brushing with a slicker brush and comb. We will be happy to explain the correct way to brush your dog and suggest a grooming programme that will allow us to achieve the look you would like for your dog. This may involve more frequent visits to our salon and will certainly involve daily grooming at home.

When a dog’s coat becomes matted, it caused discomfort as the mats pull tightly on the skin and underlying health conditions may not be visible. When a coat is clipped short, it may occasionally reveal sore, reddened and irritated skin. This is due to the skin not being able to breathe. Clipping a matted coat can take longer and cause additional wear and tear on our equipment so a further fee may be charged in addition to the normal groom price. 

Your signature on this form confirms you have given permission for your dog’s coat to be clipped short and accept that, on this occasion, any personal preference for how your dog should be groomed will not be taken into consideration as we will only do what’s best for your dog. Any irritation to your dog’s skin is likely due to the removal of a matted coat and is not the responsibility of your groomer. On the rare occasion that occurs, you may need to seek veterinary advice.

Clipping Double Coats Policy:

A double-coated dog has an outer coat of hair that is waterproof and protected, combined with a softer undercoat for watch and waterproofing. The undercoat moults through the seasons and reflects the dog’s grooming routine and environment. Double coats do not require but do require a thorough brush out.

It is our policy not to clip dogs with a double coat unless there is a medical reason requiring it. In this case we require a written note from your veterinary surgeon allowing this.

Behavioural Charges:

Aggression:

Owners have the obligation to inform us of any known aggressive behaviour traits their pet may have to other animals or humans. Specifically, the owner must inform us if they have been advised by any previous groomer(s) of any of the aforementioned behaviours.

Nervous/Anxious Dogs:

Although we cater to anxious/nervous dogs, owners have an obligation to inform us of any such behaviour in order for us to cater their needs to the best of our ability. 

Behavioural changes will be decided by us depending on the severity of the behaviour, the time, skill and equipment required to groom your dog. If your dog should bite, you agree to be responsible for all related medical bills, loss of earnings and equipment damage. We reserve the right to refuse service if we believe your dog may become a danger to itself or those within the salon. In the event of any of these behaviours present during the groom, the session may be stopped at any time and the full price of the groom incurred.

Time Keeping:

Due to our scheduling time frame, we give pre-determined time slots depending on the breed and size of your dog, their style of grooming and any additional needs. We expect you at your scheduled appointment time. If you are early we may not be able to grant immediate access and ask that you wait until your allocated time. If you are more than 15 minutes late, we may have to refuse your groom for welfare reasons as rushing the groom may lead to unnecessary stress and possible injury. A fee equal to the groom will be incurred. If you are more than 15 minutes late to collect your dog, a large collection charge will be incurred.

Pricing:

Our prices are estimates only. Additional charges may be incurred due to;

• Overweight or oversized dogs for their breed
• Unkept/neglected coats
• Matted coats
• Aggressive, nervous or timid dogs that require additional handling
• Fleas or ticks
• Dogs that require additional handling
• Late collection of your dog

Cancellations:

We require 48 hours’ notice for cancelled appointments or the full grooming fee will apply and must be paid before re-booking.

General:

We are unable to groom pregnant or in season bitches and your appointment should be rescheduled with 48 hours’ notice to avoid cancellation charge noted above. We will not provide services for any dogs noted under the Dangerous Dogs Act and we will not groom any dog that is, or is crossed with, Pit Bull Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Perro De Presa Canario, Dogo Canario, Japanese Tosa, Fila Brasileiro, Czechoslovakian Wolfdog, Saarloos Wolfdog/Wolfdog or any wolf hybrid. We will not groom any dog that must be registered under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, the Dangerous Dogs (Amendment) Act 1997 or any further amendments to this Act.

We strongly advise you to insure your pet. Whilst we take every precaution to prevent any issues, we will not accept any responsibility for any loss, injury, death or illness suffered by your pet whilst in our care, except to the extent that we are unable to limit or extend our liability. If your pet appears unwell at the time of your appointment, they will not be accepted for grooming due to the risk of cross infection to other pets. 

 Photos & Social Media Sharing

Show Stopping Grooms may take photos or videos of pets before, during or after grooming for use on our social media pages (e.g. Facebook, Instagram, our Website) and marketing materials. By using our services, owners consent to their pet being photographed and shared online. If you do not wish for photos of your pet to be posted, you must inform us at the time of your appointment or email showstoppinggrooms@gmail.com. If a photo has already been posted and you would like it removed, we will take it down as soon as possible. Show Stopping Grooms respects your privacy whilst also proudly showing the well-groomed dogs we provide services for in the salon.

GDPR Statement:

In order for us to provide the requested services, we are required to obtain and store a limit amount of personal information. Such information will be stored in accordance with all relevant legislation, will never be shared with any 3rd parties or organisations and will only be used for the purposes of providing the requested or related services. You have the right to request and review any of your personal information.